Administrators

Administrators (e.g., school principals, superintendents, members of the board of education) are essential to the successful implementation of a chemical management program. Administrators play an active role in addressing chemical mismanagement issues by executing the necessary steps to implement a program:

Serve as a liaison between teachers, the school district, and community partners;
Work with community partners (such as the Fire Departments, Local Emergency Planning Commission (LEPCs), or Boards of Health) to help develop and enforce policies;
Implement policies regarding the purchase, inventory, use, management, storage, and disposal of chemicals in schools.
Budget for a chemical inventory of all areas of the school;
Arrange for appropriate expertise (i.e., they should have specific expertise in science lab stockrooms) to conduct a chemical inventory on-site and removal of unwanted and accumulated chemicals;
Budget for periodic removal of on-site chemicals generated from science labs, art classrooms, vocational shops, facility operations and maintenance, and other areas with chemicals
Provide chemical management training for teachers and staff:
- Require annual chemical awareness and management training for all personnel throughout the school district who are involved in purchasing, use, and management of chemicals.
- Ensure all chemical safety equipment is working and personnel and students, where appropriate, are trained in its use.
Incorporate chemical management oversight into full facility assessments using tools such as the Healthy School Environments Assessment Tool.
Consider contracting with vendors who provide Chemical and Resource Management Services (CRMS). CRMS has two components:
1. Chemical Management Services (CMS) - typically involves a long-term contract for provision of chemicals and assistance with associated management services (e.g. chemical tracking, regulatory compliance).
2. Resource Management Services (RMS) - providers haul waste and recycled goods, and also help adjust upstream activities to reduce the amount of material entering the waste stream.

For more information visit EPA's CMS page and read the success story on the Lansing Michigan School District that switched to CRMS.

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Administrators

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